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NPGA NEWS
FMCSA Proposes to Extend &
Expand Short Haul Operation
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) is proposing several changes to hours of
service regulations including changes to the short-
haul operation exemption, which has been a top
priority for NPGA. FMCSA proposes to improve the
short-haul operation exemption by extending the
maximum on-duty time from 12 to 14 hours, and
expanding the maximum air-mile radius from 100 to
150 air-miles. These changes could save the industry
$11 million annually in paperwork costs and give
bobtail drivers more time to serve customers during
deliveries.
The current short-haul operation exemption
detailed at 49 C.F.R. 395.1(e) relieves drivers from
the requirement to maintain a Record Of Duty Status
(including use of an electronic logging device) and
supporting documentation.
Currently, the criteria to fall within the short-haul
exemption are:
• The driver operates within a 100 air-mile radius of
the normal work reporting location;
• The driver returns to the work reporting location;
• The driver is released from work within 12
consecutive hours;
• The driver has at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty
separating each 12 hours on-duty;
• The driver does not drive for more than a total of 11
hours during a 14-hour period.
The Regulatory Task Force of NPGA’s Governmental
Affairs Committee initially identified potential
changes to the short-haul exemption as an
opportunity for the association to proactively
address and reduce regulatory burdens. NPGA
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engaged FMCSA and the Office of the Secretary of
the Department of Transportation through multiple
discussions as well as formal outreach in response to
rulemaking actions and presidential executive orders.
NPGA will continue to advocate for changes to the
short-haul operation exemption that enable drivers
to serve their customers with greater flexibility.
FMCSA also proposes additional modifications to
other hours of service regulations. The proposal
includes:
• extending the maximum adverse driving conditions
exception by two hours;
• altering when a 30-minute rest break is required for
long-haul drivers;
• adding flexibility to how long-haul drivers may split
the sleeper berth break;
• increasing the pause window for an off-duty break
for long-haul drivers.
FMCSA’s proposal also solicits feedback on a series
of information and data requests. A pre-publication
version of the regulatory proposal is available here.
NPGA is reviewing the entirety of the proposal
package to maximize the opportunities for the
propane industry.
Please direct any questions or comments to NPGA’s
Sarah Reboli , Deputy Counsel, Regulatory Affairs.
NPGA TO SELL CETP
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO
PERC
This will include all certification records in the
program database since its inception in 1987
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)
GPGA MARKETER November 2019